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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Originally posted by Kreisler: I'd like to invite any new members or lurkers out there to introduce yourselves and join in the discussions.

So if you've been looking for a reason and a way to get your feet wet, here's your chance. Reply here and introduce yourself, then pick a topic and jump right in!

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I am new to this forum and joined after hearing about it from the wonderful book "Grand Obsession" which has inspired me to play & practice more. I'm presently immersed in Chopin. I can play a few nocturnes and my aim now is to study the Mazurkas (love Op. 17 No. 4 - incredible piece, among many others). I've been playing for close to 50 years now - I started at age 9, was a music ed major (masters), taught private lessons for many years, but working in an office now - unfortunately my hearing is not very good now. I am now definitely inspired to play and practice just for the fun of it. I'm currently studying the Chopin Mazurkas many of which are not too difficult. I have a Baldwin Hamilton 245 which I bought new in 1982 which is OK, but of course I wish I had a grand!Somewhere I read (maybe "Grand Obsession") that although children enjoy performing for other children, unfortunately adults just compare themselves to Rubenstein which can be very discouraging. I agree. I have now decided at my age that I will play for me, because I love playing so much and that's a good enough reason. (But would also love to play 4 hand pieces). I'm having my piano tuned in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. After reading "Grand Obsession" I'm going to ask the piano tuner about voicing, etc. I chose the Baldwin because it sounded mellow to me.I've always been pretty good at harmonization and playing by ear - I have taught class piano to adults and children and was able to figure out the chords before you could find all that on the internet!I have most of Chopin's sheet music but realized I was not familiar with the mazurkas and never studied them with a teacher, so I will be trying all of those over the next few months. I'm sure there's other people on this forum obsessed with Chopin!...K.

I really enjoy this forum, so I've finally decided to introduce myself.

I'm Debbie and I have been lurking for awhile. I'm 56 and started studying piano at 6. I attended New England Conservatory for 2 years (many, many years ago) but did not graduate from there. I now have a PhD in Applied Math.

I've continued to study piano privately off and on, and am now studying with an absolutely wonderful teacher. In the past ten years or so, I've participated in several of the amateur piano competitions and every few years I get the nerve to play a recital for friends and/or family.

I'm Anthony, I'm 20 years old and I started to play piano at about 8 or so...I think. I lost my interest in piano around 11 but was forced to take lessons until I left for college.

About 6 weeks ago I stumbled upon Chopin's G minor Ballade and I became obsessed with the piece (and well Chopin altogether) and just had to play it. So that brought me back to piano, and now I just cant stop playing!

at the moment trying to tackle the set of ballades (#1 is done), etudes 10-1,10-12,12-12. scherzo 2, un sospiro, polonaise op. 53 (im a sucker for the overplayed pieces)

I have to quote 9ellis1

Quote:

"I love playing Liszt and Chopin or most things from the Romantic era onwards. I can't be dealing with Bach's trills and frills."

My name is Jamie. I'm 28 from Nova Scotia, Canada. I studied piano since I was 6, up until finished my undergrad in piano performance in 2002. I then deicded to make a career change to the navy and haven't been playing since until recently. I just bought a well cared for Baldwin C172 5'8" grand. It has some frustrations but for me it's a good instrument. At my peak I was performing Chopin Ballade #1, Beethoven sonata op. 10 no. 2 as lots of other great music. Now I'm just looking to rebuild my technique and not over do it (looking for a good sonatina that I might like). I enjoy reading people's questions and comments.

I started piano lessons at 5, stopped at 16, and after years of hostel pianos, sneaking into practice rooms, and getting kicked out of piano shops, finally knuckled down and bought a Roland RP101 last year (thankfully there were only 3 options in the shop I went to, ranked by price!!)

And I'm looking for an audience! I entered the Youtube Symphony Orchestra auditions, but with only 18 days' practice, made a spectacular mess of the Tan Dun piece, and my hands. If nothing else, I got a half-decent Traumerei out of it, and am now working on the rest of the set.

I'm 28-and-a-bit, trained as an architect, a very late-blooming bunhead, and aspiring artist/animator. Fitting in enough practice time for all 3 avocations after a rough work day is really hard, and the internet wins way too often...

I'm much older than most of the people here. I'm 63. I've been playing the piano since I was able to crawl up on the bench of my mother's piano as a child.

I had mediocre piano lessons (we had *no* money) as a child, and my parents were dead set against my doing anything with the piano except "having it in later life to enjoy". My father forced me to make a decision at age 17: "you can go to Juilliard, or you can do something honorable...".

For many years, I accompanied choruses, opera, and musical theater. I played harpsichord in a chamber orchestra, and I had a klezmer band (and played accordion). I also played piano in a 24-piece swing stage band for years.

In my 30s, I really found my "stride" taking lessons from a real accomplished pro -- and found that, in my opinion, I would have become a top-rate, second quality pianist. Just as well, I guess!

In my later life, I've reallty latched onto the Spanish genre, especially Turina and Granados. I truly love the Goyescas, and things like Sanlucar de Barrameda of Turina.

I had my mother's 1914 Knabe for many years. In 1997 I sold it and bought a brand new 7' Shultz-Pohlmann, which was an absolute "dream" instrument for me. However, I needed to sell the Shultz-Pohlmann a few years ago just to have money to live, and today I'm reduced to an old, small Kimball grand (what a come down!!!) which I'm slowly working on, regulating and rebuilding with my own hands since it's obviously not worth financially investing anything significant in the instrument.

I am not playing very well at all today. For some reason, for about 4 or 5 years, I just couldn't tolerate to sit down at the instrument.

For the last year or so, I've been coming back to playing quite a bit. I'm going through some very annoying frustrations, as in "I used to be able to easily play that and can't play it at all today" ... but I'm trying to stay positive about it.

I used to pride myself on being able to sight read "absolutely anything", relatively fluently. I seem to have completely lost that ability. I know part of it is that my eyesight is not what it used to be, but there's a lot more going on than just that. I do not understand it fully.

Lately, I've tasked myself at working on the Granados Goyescas and the Allegro de Concierto, some of my favorite Chopin (e.g., Fantasie Impromptu, the third Ballade, etc.), on the Brahms Rhapsodies, and on some of the Goldsowsky and Wild concert transcriptions of Gershwin songs. Of course, this is FAR much too much to accomplish all at once, but, as usual, I want it all[/b] , and I want it all right now[/b] ...

I joined because I was looking for an answer to a specific question and thought it would be nice to talk piano every now and then.

I grew up playing piano, never took exams, but studied with a Royal Conservatory teacher for more than ten years. I got up to about grade IXish stuff. Then I moved, and kept moving and piano just wasn't a moving thing so I switched to guitar to keep my musical interest satiated. Now I'm a little more settled. Not really, but I went with a digital piano to get back to what I really like. Now I'm getting myself back to where I was and I'm enjoying it. Getting better now that I've had a couple of years back at the keyboard and things come back pretty quick. I still can't muddle through a complete Beethoven Sonata to save my life and I still lack the attention span to clean up the pieces I should.

I've been lurking around this forum for over a year, but never really registered. I guess it must have been because it was my final year at high school and I was just way too busy (but I still managed to keep up my piano playing).

So anyway, I'm 17 and I've been playing piano for little over 4 years. I taught myself how to read music on my Yamaha keyboard (PSR-E303) and also learnt to play some very popular classical music like the Pathetique Sonata movements 2 & 3, Mozart's Alla Turca (K.331), a few Chopin preludes, Moonlight Sonata movements 1 & 2 and not to forget, Fur Elise, which was the first ever piece that I learnt (not just the first few measures, the whole piece!)

I've been wanting a piano ever since I started playing, and the only time that I could get my hands on one (or three!) was during lunch times at school. I started taking piano lessons a couple of months ago after realising that I've reached the limit of self-teaching and started out on grade 5. My teacher said that I could have also started on grades 6 or 7 if my sight reading was up to scratch, so now we're working to increase my sight reading speed.

Just last Wednesday, I got my Kawai BL-61 132cm upright delivered to my home, and although its a few years old, it has a very nice touch and a warm sound (it will need tuning, but that's still a couple of months away). I'm itching to start learning the more difficult piano music but I'm resisting that temptation by telling myself that sight reading and technique are more important.

I believe Beethoven is the greatest musician to ever have lived and no amount of criticism can change my opinion. The Appassionata Sonata remains my favourite work for the piano, followed very closely by Op. 111 and the Emperor Concerto and the rest of his works.

I have been playing/having classical piano lessons for about three years (i'm 25 now). I orriginally played bass/electric guitar before taking up Piano - I have since dedicated all practice time to the Piano, although I am a big fan of synths and keyboard.

I am addicted to Progressive Rock/Metal, so I am constantly discussing alternate time signatures with my piano teacher. I tend to learn a majority of the theory and general rules from my piano teacher, and teach myself the more specialist techniques which play a heavier part in the music I enjoy playing (Dream Theater, Symphony X, Sonata Artica, etc).

It would be great to hear from other fellow adult students.

Also any suggested pratice tips/regimes/programs, would be very much appreciated.

My name is Silas JĂ¸rgensen, I'm 20 years old and I'm from Denmark. I've started taking piano lessons 6 months ago, after playing without a teacher for 5-6 years, and I'm right now in the middle of determining whether this is something I want to do and make a living of or whether I'm not fit for it. I like a lot of different music, however I mostly prefer simple music. Not in the sense of theoretically simple at all, but I prefer solo melodies from huge ensembles and I'm not very thrilled about a lot of running up and down in 16th notes or similar. I prefer beautiful, simple yet complex music I guess :p If you feel you have to ask me something, pm me anytime. Looking forward to getting to know you all

I'm 37. Started playing when I was 5. Played until I was about 13, then off and on until age 24. Moved out of my parents home... NO PIANO... Finally purchased a Yamaha p80 (condusive to apartment living) Then I had twins. Until recently, I just haven't found the time to practice. I have piles of sheet music and books. But find that nothing is for me at the moment. Pieces I've played with ease in the past are barely remembered by the fingers (nor are my hands in the condition for some of the reaches... who knew that hands could be flexible) and when I look at the music, it's like I had a stroke and must relearn most of what I'm looking at. There is very little hand eye coordination right now.

That all said, I feel that everything is just a handful or two of serious practice sessions away. HOWEVER, I feel completely discombobulated when I sit down. At the moment, a teacher is not an option. I'm very tightly scheduled with my children... and am quite lucky to be able to finally do something for myself after they get to bed... HEADPHONES are going to be a lifesaver!

I feel as though I should do a complete review of theory. There is much that I never really learned unless is was just part of a pc. I was working on.

And although I love playing classical pcs. I would really like to learn some rag time, and jazz, and have the ability (that I've NEVER had) to grab a popular music pc. and improvise with it. You know, when you'd like to play your favorite song on the radio, but it's written for a not so talented 3rd grader?

Well that's about it... suggestions for Theory Books (not aimed at kids) appreciated... other suggestions taken as well... Thanks

Hi,I'm new to this forum - haven't been lurking much, but very interested in the piano both as an instrument and a piece of engineering. I'm 60 and started professional piano lessons in Scotland when I was six and continued until I was 18 (now live in California). I majored in music and science in High School and studied the Bassoon for six years during that time. I had enough qualifications to attend music college after High school but realized I didn't practice enough so went to Engineering college instead! I have played semi-professionally in the past and taught private piano lessons for many years but play mostly for my own pleasure now. I play a lot of Chopin, as well as Beethoven, Debussy, Mozart etc. I love playing ragtime and a few years ago discovered Louis Moreau Gottschalk - very demanding! Wish I could play Jazz (I can read it but not improvise) - Growing up, Jazz was not considered 'proper' music and was actively discouraged. I also played Tuba for a number of years in a British competitive Brass band.

My piano is nothing special - it's a Schumann 5' grand (1974) made by Samick. I chose it because of a very clear sound and good dynamics although I'd prefer something with a little lighter action. Hopefully I can help answer questions from forum members who are interested in learning and playing the piano!

I am "Trev" a freelance music teacher and composer living in rural North Devon on the northern edge of Dartmoor near Okehampton.

Although I now live in the westcountry I studied music in East Anglia under Alan Bullard and many others. The establishment where I was had good connections with the Royal Academy in London and Snape Maltings in Suffolk where identity in music was taught to a great level with the obvious leanings towards Benjamin Britten. That use of local identity in composition is something I have always held dearly and practice to this day with a passion.

I teach a cross section of students mainly beginner to grade five ability although I have also a handful of students at the more advanced levels working towards grades seven and eight as well as working towards some diplomas too.

I also teach violin, viola, composition and teach music to a range of handicapped children also all of which I find very enjoyable.

As the majority of my students are of the scratch to grade five level I write a fair bit of educational music with them in mind.

The music I write is wide and varied using lots of local folk idioms and tends to be on the lighter side in general. A small selection of my music can be viewed and listened to on my website

and I do sell music all over the world to pupils and to teachers as well as to orchestras and brass bands.

Please feel free to go on there have a listen and see what you think. I have great fun writing this stuff and if it becomes popular and makes some extra income then that is just more cream on the cake so to say.

I am very pleased to have stumbled on this site though.

The musical world needs a site just like this one where we can all converse and discuss ideas and help others at the same time and although I am new here I hope to make good use and also be of good use here in the future.

I will no doubt catch up with many of you in the days, weeks, months and years to come and look forward to this.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this little introduction about me.

Hello, my name is David and im a begginer to the piano (yet not an adult!)I've been on piano lessons for over a year and every day I love it more. The whole world of music, every different style, but mainly I love the sound of the piano and the beautifull harmonies it makes. I get specially inspired listening to my own teacher play.This is the first post I make in the forums, and I have already learned a lot from the practice drills and recommendations at the ABF. To be honest, I don't have much talent on the piano, my progress during this year has been steady and marvellous, yet at this point I feel I don't have the level many other pianist can achieve in a year. I think that is enough of an introduction! im really happy about the results of my lessons, and I don't feel like giving up at all!

Although I've been a member for a couple of years I have not posted for some time. My musical activities have changed.

My local church has persuaded me to be one of their village organists, so I'm looking for some advice from the boards here -- I find the pedal-playing difficult because of my age (mobility restricted).

Hello! Just joined to the forums!I'm a 16 year old boy from Finland, and I play mostly metal with my piano. I've played to the piano for about 3-4 years. My sustain pedal working sucks a bit, but I'm still pretty good at playing the piano. Check out my Youtube vids (ParoniSamedi) to judge me

Hey! My name is max. I go to a school which has some grand pianos. Yamaha and such. If someone could help me out that would be great. And also what are some really good exercises for the piano/ What do they help?

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Nothing is more intolerable than to have to admit to yourself your own errors.Ludwig van Beethoven

Im 17, Been playing for 13 years i think. Learned all the basics a Loooooooooooooong time ago. So any excercises would be helpful. There are things i need to work on. I love beethoven and the classical masters.

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Nothing is more intolerable than to have to admit to yourself your own errors.Ludwig van Beethoven

I used to ask about stuff, but now IÂ´m mainly lurking. I think IÂ´ve gotten all the answers I need, thanks!:-) Also I have to practise so much for an upcoming concert that I keep my computer turned off most days.

Well, I am only seventeen but I have been playing since I was seven, I "graduated" from Alfred's basic piano library a few years ago. Right now I'm preparing to accompany for a musical and a spring recital and a small recital at the end of next summer. I also recently auditioned for colleges since I want to major in piano performance. Better marry money.

I don't really have the long "history" some people do, since I'm only really beginning my career, but I do love it a lot, so I'm glad to be here!

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Just because my instrument is the size of a table does not mean you may lean on it!

Hi, I'm David, I've made a few posts on here but I'm basically new, having just discovered these forums maybe two weeks ago.I'm 16, been playing since I was 4 and seriously since age 13. Currently studying piano at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, after graduating early from high school in San Francisco. Pieces I'm currently working on are Chopin's F minor concerto, Polonaise-Fantaisie, op. 61, Beethoven op. 22 sonata, and Brahms op. 119.

Hello, I'm pianist from Lithuania & big fan of Chopin and his epocha. I was happy to find a place in www, where are so many enthusiastic pianists together so I hope that neither me nor my interests about the XIX century music and instruments won't be lonely here

My name is Natalie and I just joined the site yesterday. I started playing piano when I was 4, and took lessons until I went to college (about 17). I played a little on my own in college and haven't played in the past 5 years. I have just quit my job in advertising to go back to school for fashion design, and have decided to return to all of my creative loves.

I just posted a question on the general piano forum on types of vertical pianos (I am looking at two Schulze Pollman 126's tonight, and a 52" Haessler), and while I have only been looking for a week, I want to buy my piano tomorrow, and would welcome any advise.

So far this forum seems to contain so much information, and is making me even more excited to jump back into playing. As for my interests, I love classical music - and my favorite composers are: Chopin, Beethoven, Hayden, Debussy, etc.

Hi There.I am Phil.I am self-taught.Been playing for 30 years.I don't read music.I work as part of a two piece band Piano and guitar with a drum machine playing Irish,pop,rock,country etc.I have been lurking here for while now.

Hello!I'm Victor, I just joined yesterday. I'm 18, from the US. I took lessons since I was 6 years old until last year. I never really took my lessons seriously though until the very beginning of last year. I'm in college now, a long way from home. The closest pianos I have are about a 10 minute bike from my dorm (not bad, I know), but all the pianos there are old, out of tune, the keys are uneven, etc, but it's not that hard to deal with. Although, it definitely makes me miss my piano at home all the more.

Originally Posted By: Karen123

I can play a few nocturnes and my aim now is to study the Mazurkas (love Op. 17 No. 4 - incredible piece, among many others).

What a coincidence! When I first started learning pieces of my own, only learned Chopin nocturnes. I wanted to learn the exact same Mazurka, but unfortunately my piano teacher did not have the sheet music for it.

HI Everyone,This looks like a superb forum and I'm very glad I found it.I'm 41 years old and have been leaning to play for almost 3 years. I only started to try to encourage my then 6yo son. He stopped taking lessons years ago, but I got hooked!

I tried to learn guitar when I was younger which gave me some grounding in the treble clef and music theory. I am not naturally musical, I guess I enjoy the challenge.

To play (learn) on, I inherited an vertigrand Steinway, dating from ~1876. Very nicely restored, some kind of walnut finish. Piano teachers just stared at it when they visited.

I have 3 pet rats (who sometimes nibble my toes when I practise), 3 small children and a baby, so practise time is pretty precious -- takes a lot of self-discipline to find it.I also have long-term RSI so I play with splints on, and can't hope to play anything with big stretches in them or it would hurt my hands.

On top of all that I'm too shy to play in front of anybody outside the family, so I don't have a teacher. I am self-learning out of children's tuition books (Piano Time series at the moment).

But I enjoy it, so what the heck, eh??!!

I'm from California originally but have lived in England for the last 17-18 years. bfn -julii

I am 50 and getting started on the piano very late. I have played the guitar and string bass for many years, so I have some musical background.

I have started to teach myself a bit of piano by basically reading everything I can get my hands on. I am working on Czerny Op.599 and Op.777 and plan to start studying Burgmuller Op.100 soon. I have also tried some J.S. Bach, but I'm not quite ready for that yet.

I live in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and I'm looking for an appropriate teacher. I am considering calling the Settlement Music School to register for lessons. If anyone is in, or near Philly and would like to suggest a teacher I'm all ears.

I'm looking forward to getting to know those of you who share my interests. See you in the forums!

hey there..im ann. i've started playing the piano since i was 8.learnt until i was 14 or so. Did not enjoy piano lessons at all. never practised. hated theory. Got scolded by my piano teacher on a weekly basis. So all in all. i did not like playing the piano. In fact, i dreaded lessons and celebrated when my teacher could not make it for class.So i quit after realising it was a waste of money ,at grade 5 i think(yes i never did get very far). However, a couple of months ago, i played on my aunt's grand piano and i just suddenly realised that i love it! i woke up the next day and played for 3 hours straight. Before that, i had trouble practising for more than 15 minutes! SO now, i really love classical music and i can spend hours on the piano.

The pieces im working on now are..Chopin Fantasie ImpromptuChopin op 9 no 1